Russell Westbrook close to joining Hapoel Tel Aviv
The 37-year-old former MVP is in talks with Hapoel Tel Aviv after a summer without a clear NBA landing spot.
Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, 37, is reportedly in active talks to join Hapoel Tel Aviv for the coming season, according to multiple American and European basketball insiders. Conversations between the parties have expanded in recent days and the veteran is said to be seriously considering a move overseas.
Immediate fit and context
Westbrook would arrive in Tel Aviv after a summer in which he struggled to attract an NBA contract. Last season he averaged roughly 15 points and 7 assists while playing for the Sacramento Kings, numbers that would make him by far the standout player on Hapoel and one of the most prominent figures in the EuroLeague.
At 37, Westbrook remains one of the most decorated guards of his generation — a former MVP and the all-time leader in triple-doubles in NBA history — and his potential transfer would be among the highest-profile moves to Europe in recent years.
Hapoel Tel Aviv would gain a clear on-court leader and a player capable of changing the tempo of games, while Westbrook would receive a platform to play a primary role night after night, something that proved harder to come by in the NBA this summer.
Talks continue and there is no confirmed contract yet. The situation has also generated a wave of social-media posts and speculation since early August 2026, and any formal agreement would mark Westbrook’s first season outside the NBA.
We will follow further developments and report as clubs and the player make official announcements.
Photo: press material from the event
